Initiation apparatus.



PATENTBD JULY 3 H. E. HUSTED. INITIATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1906.

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PATENTED JULY 3 B. HUSTED. INITIATION APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED JAN.25, 1006.

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PATENT'ED JULY 3, 1906.

H. E; BUSTED. INITIATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1906.

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PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

H. E. HUSTED. INITIATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1906.

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HIGHLAND E. HUSTED, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

INITIATION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906-.

Application filed January 25,1906; Serial N0- 297,874.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HIGHLAND E. HUSTED, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Initiation Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to initiation apparatus for employment in lodges,secret societies, and wherever such equipment or paraphernalia may bedesirable or necessary.

As is well known, the object of an initiation ceremony is to test thecourage of the candidate for membership and to impress upon him a deepand lasting impression concerning the mysterious rites and ceremonies,the obligations which he takes, and the duties of the members of thelodge or other organization of which he is about to become a member. Tothese ends he is put through certain ordeals which are intended toaccomplish said objects, but without injury to him of any nature orcharacter whatsoever.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which, while calculated to produce such impressions,is of such construction and organization that its employment in theinitiation ceremony cannot result disastrously to the candidate, but maybe used with perfect and absolute safety.

I am aware that initiation apparatus for the purposes and of thecharacter hereinbefore described have heretofore been provided but suchof them as have come under my observation have been of such constructionthat it was with difficulty that they could be assembled or taken apart,(if at all,) such operation being attended by delay and loss of time, acondition which under the circumstances is extremely undesirable, and ifthey were of such nature that they could not be taken apart they weregenerally exposed to view and occupied needed space.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a device of thecharacter described which while of large proportions may be readily,easily, and quickly put together and in place, may be quickly takenapart, and may be packed or stored within a small compass or forshipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an assemblage of partsso disposed and arranged as to give an effect at once pleasing to theeye and adapted to the office each has to perform.

Mechanism embodying the preferred con- I structive forms of and showingthe mutual relationship and combination of the parts forming thesubject-matter of my improvements is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which all of said parts are shown as constructed andembodied in the best way now known to me. Obviously, however, some ofthe parts may be altered in their forms, some may be used without theothers,

and some may be employed in machines dif-- fering in construction andarrangement and for different purposes from the one shown in saiddrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a frontelevation; Fig. 3, an elevation similar to that shown in Fig. 1, butshowing the carriage, with its occupant, as having traversed a portionof its flight after having been released Fig. 4, a bottom plan of theplatform Fig. 5, a front elevation of the carriage; Fig. 6, a sideelevation thereof Fig. 7, an elevation of the track or runway, and Figs.8, 9, 10, and 11 details.

Referring now to the drawingsby numerals and letters, the same referencecharacter indicating the same part in the different figures thereof, 1 1represent base-boards or bonds, for a purpose hereinafter described, andform a portion of an inclined track, also hereinafter described.

2 2 are corner posts or stanchions, at the upper end of each of which isa dowel-pin 4.

5 5 are metal braces secured by bolts 5" at their upper and lower ends,respectively, to the platform B (hereinafter described) and to the posts2. I

B is a platform constructed of end pieces 6, side pieces 7,connecting-strips 8, and a floor 9. a b are apertures or sockets in itsunder side. Other apertures (not shown) are provided in its upper side.Secured to the bottom of the platform by keepers 10 is a latch 1 1,operated by a lever 12 in an evident manner and for a purposehereinafter described. 13 is an opening extending entirely through theplatform. 13 represents hooks secured to the rear side of the platformand which are adapted to engage with eyes or staples fixed to the walland serve to instantly fix the platform thereto or detach it therefrom.

O represents a vertical race or wheel-retaining track or trackperpendicular to the line of the horizon comprising parallel bars 14,having flanges l5 and through-openings 16. The rear upper portion ofeach bar is cut away for the reception of a wall-plate .17, having acentral orifice through which is passed a lag-screw 18, by which it issecured to a wall. (Not shown.) A bolt 19 is passed through each orificeor aperture 16 and through apertures in the wall plate, by which meanssaid )arts are firmly held together and the wheelretaining track to thewall. At the lower end of each bar 1 1 is a dowel-pin 20.

D is a runway formed of parallel elliptical or otherwise curved anddownwardly-inclined bars D, substantially L-shaped in cross-section,comprising a track portion 21 and:

flanges or guards 22, which bars are united and held .in alinement byconnectingrods (Z.- At the upper end of each bar is a dowel-pin 23. Nearthe forward portion of the track, or at that point where it firstcontacts the floor, it is cut away to form a shoulder 24, which isengaged by one end of a base-board 1, the other end of which is fixed toa strut 25, the distal end of which rests against and supports ashoulder 26 near the upper end of the runway. At the lower end of eachstrut is a dowel-pin 27, which engages a corresponding aperture in thefloor. 28, 29, and 30 are braces and maybe of any preferred.construction.

The wheeled truck or carriage E comprises a bed or body portion 31,provided with padding or upholstery 3]. (see Fig. 2) and having anoutwardly-inclined head-rest or pillow 32, which is also padded, (forsafety,) a gate or foot-board 33, which when the carriage is in itsinitial position constitutes a trapdoor, braces 34, axles 35, and wheels36. Hinged to the bed at 37 is a shield 38, preferably ofstrongwire-netting, which shield is adapted to be swung open to permitthe candidate to enter while in an erect position and to afterward beclosed and fastened by a latch 39. The means employed for hinging andfastening the latch is immaterial. 40 is afiight of steps by which theplatform B may be reached and may be secured thereto by hooks 41 andstaples 42 or in any other desired or preferred manner.

The device is with great speed and accuracy and in a rigid mannerassembled as follows: The frame A, having first been put together bymeans of the bolts 5 and braces 5, it and the runway D are brought intotheir proper relative positions on the floor and the dowel-pins 27 inthe struts inserted in sockets in the floor already prepared for theirreception. The platform B is then raised into position with thedowel-pins 4 resting snugly in the sockets a and the pins 23 in thesockets b, whereupon the hooks 13 are engaged with the wall-staples,(not shown,) by which several means said parts A, B, and D are securelyand. safely fixed in place and to each other. The verticalwheel-retaining track, with its attached wall-plate, being then raisedinto position, with the dowel-pins 20 projected into sockets in theupper surface of the platform and the plate 17 contacting the wall, thelag-screw is threaded thereinto and the entire device held securely andfixedly in rigid position and in a remarkably short time. A reverseoperation, it will be evident, will in a very brief time and. with greatease take the device apart, whereupon it may be stored or packed forshipment in a comparatively small space.

The machine or apparatus having been assembled as above described and itbeing desirable to place the carriage in position for use, the wheelsthereof may be introduced upon the inclined track or runway with thehead-rest forward. It will be manifest that the inclined pillow willpermit that end thereof to traverse its path without contacting thecurvature of the track, nor indeed any portion thereof. The trap-door33, of a size only sufiicient to enter the opening or gateway 13, havingreached the position shown at Figs. 1 and 2 the lever 12 is given athrow to thrust the latch 11 which had prepara tively been opened, tothe position. shown at Fig. 1, whereby the carriage will be securelyheld from downward movement in the position shown at said figures. Thewheels 36 will be confined by and within the flanges 15 and the carriageprevented thereby from falling outwardly or forwardly therefrom. Theapparatus being then in readiness, the blindfolded candidate isconducted, by means of the stairway, to the platform, and thence to thetrap-door 33, his back and head resting against the padded body andpillow of the carriage. The shield is then closed and latched or lockedin such manner that the arms of the occupant are pinioned closely to hisbody, whereupon the lever is thrown in a direction contrary to that lastdescribed to withdraw the latch, and thereby release the trap-door. Thecarriage and its occupant will by force of gravity be dropped with greatspeed through the opening 13 first in a perpendicular and then in thedirection of the curvature of the runway D, the carriagewheels beingretained during their fiight through the race 0 by the flanges 15. Thefirst impulse of the occupant is to throw his hands and arms outwardly.This would result disastrously as he passed through the opening 13 wereit not prevented. by the shield, which, as hereinbefore described,pinions his arms closely to his body. The padding or upholsteryeffectually prevents injury to his person no matter how great hisstruggles for release. The carriage having passed from a vertical to aninclined. position, there is no longer need for confinement of thewheels. The open flanged track is therefore provided. The carriagehaving passed therefrom and onto the floor, it, if it does not stop byreason of friction, may be caught by memits bers of the lodge and theoccupant released from his recumbent position by releasing the shield38.

It will be evident that the device may be employed with absolute safetyand that no harm can possibly result from its use. It is effective inthat a considerable fright is given the candidate, sufficient, in fact,to accomplish the objects sought. It presents an attractive appearancewhen assembled, and its construction is such that it may readily bepacked away or shipped from one lodge to another.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relativearrangement of the several parts of my improvements, yet I do not desireto be confined to such specific constructions, as such chan es ormodifications may be made as fairly fall within the purview of myinvention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an initiation apparatus, an upper, perpendicular wheel-retainingtrack and a lower, inclined runway.

2. In an initiation apparatus, an upper, perpendicular wheel-retainingtrack and a lower, flanged runway.

3. In an initiation apparatus, an upper,

erpendicular, wheel retainin g track, a l ower, inclined runway, andmeans for connecting them.

4. In an initiation apparatus and in combination, a wheeled carriage, anupper, perpendicular track, means for holding the wheels of the carriagetherein, and a lower, inclined runway.

5. In an initiation apparatus and in combination, a wheeled carriage, anupper, perpendicular track, means for holding the carriage-wheelstherein, and a lower, inclined runway.

6. In combination with a gravity-operated wheeled carriage, an upper,perpendicular wheel-retaining track and a lower, inclined runway.

7 In combination, an upper, vertical wheelretaining track provided withflanges in pairs, a lower, inclined runway, a gravityoperated wheeledcarriage, and means for retaining it in a suspended position and forreleasing it therefrom.

S. The combination with a frame, a platform supported thereon andprovided with a gateway, an upper, vertical wheel-retaining track and alower, inclined runway, of a carriage adapted to pass over said trackand runway and through said gateway.

9. The combination with a platform provided with a gateway, an upper,vertical wheel-retaining track and a lower, inclined runway, of acarriage adapted to pass over said track and runway and through saidopening, and means for maintaining said carriage in a suspended positionpartly within said gateway and for releasing it therefrom.

10. In combination, a frame, a platform supported thereon having anenlarged opening, an upper, vertical, wheel-retaining track and a lower,inclined runway, a gravity-operated carriage adapted to pass throughsaid opening, means for holding it partly within said opening and forreleasing it.

11. In a device of the character described, a frame, dowel-pins on theupper ends of the posts thereof, a platform having a gateway, supportedthereon, an inclined runway provided with dowel-pins seated in socketsin the lower portion of said platform, a vertical track provided withdowel-pins seated in sockets in the upper portion of said platform, anda plate fixed to said last-named track.

12. In a device of the character described, a rectangular framecomprising corner posts and braces between each pair thereof, aninclined runway within said frame, means for supporting it a platformhaving an opening therethrough, supported by said frame and track, and avertical track supported by said patform.

13. In an initiation apparatus, a rectangular frame comprising aplurality of posts, braces fixed to each pair thereof, dowel-pins in theupper ends thereof, an inclined runway, dowel-pins at the upper endthereof, base-boards and struts fixed to said runway, dowel-pins at thelower ends of the struts, a platform provided with a gateway and havingsockets in its lower portion, said sockets engaged with said pins andsaid platform mounted on said frame and runway.

14. In an initiation apparatus, a rectangular frame comprising aplurality of posts, braces fixed to each pair thereof, a dowel-pin inthe upper end of each post, an inclined runway, dowel-pins at the upperend thereof, struts fixed to said runway, dowel-pins at the lower endsthereof, a platform provided with a gateway and having sockets in itslower portion, said sockets engaged with said pins and said platformmounted on said frame and runway, an upper, wheel-retaining track, adowel-pin at the lower end of each rail thereof, said pins engaged withsockets in the upper portion of said platform, and a plate fixed to andconnecting the rails of said track.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day ofJanuary, 1906.

HIGHLAND E. HUSTED.

Witnesses:

W. H. SULLIVAN, Jr., G. E. CLARK. 1

